We often stay at bed and breakfast inns or opt for destinations out in the country, but occasionally we like to experience city life by staying in a downtown hotel.
Our weekend at the elegant Cincinnatian Hotel gave us some of the best of big-city life and convenience, while being one of the more pleasant downtowns to navigate on foot that I remember visiting.
Links and information in story updated 2020
Our weekend plans included visiting the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and watching a Cincinnati Reds baseball game. We found both destinations a relatively easy walk from the hotel. Walking down to the riverfront area from the hotel is a bit of a downhill walk, so the return trip requires a bit of an uphill, but easily doable, trek. Downtown streets had plenty of foot traffic during the day and during the weekend evenings, and, as the hotel doorman advised us, walking to and from the night baseball game felt like a safe trip.
The hotel is part of the Historic Hotels of America network, a National Trust for Historic Preservation program consisting of more than 200 hotels. Historic Hotels are at least 50 years old, historically significant and maintain their historic architecture or atmosphere.
The Cincinnatian began life in 1882 as The Palace Hotel, becoming The Cincinnatian in 1951. The hotel faced possible demolition during the 1980s, but instead underwent a $25 million renovation and reopened in 1987 as a luxury hotel.
I loved the wide marble staircase with walnut banisters that dominated the lobby. The well-worn marble steps held memories of those who visited the hotel over its 125-year-plus history.
The hotel has elevators, but it was fun to descend the stairs and check out the artwork on each landing. Landings on the lower floors overlooked the multi-story atrium, and you could sit on couches there to listen to the musical performers in the hotel bar if you didn’t feel like sitting in the bar itself.
We had an appetizer and drink in the hotel bar the night we arrived, but found the menu quite pricey. That meant we explored other meal options and became regulars at the Starbucks down the street for our coffee, ice tea and breakfasts.
The Cincinnatian is a Mobil four-star and AAA four-diamond hotel with luxury hotel rates to match, although I did appreciate the fact that the hotel did not charge guests extra for high-speed Internet, unlike other higher priced hotels where I’ve stayed.
© Dominique King 2008 (updated 2020)
Comments